A graduate in Lagos who is strong in maths can teach a secondary school student in Manchester, or a JAMB candidate in Enugu, from the same laptop. The skill is the same. The difference is who pays, how much, and how you find them. This guide covers both routes, how to set a rate, and how to run sessions when power and data are unreliable.
One honest note first: tutoring is a service business. You trade hours for money, competition is real, and your first students usually come slowly. Treat it as something you build over a few months, not a quick payout.
Pick a subject and student group you can actually deliver
"I teach everything" is hard to sell. A narrow offer is easier to trust. Start from what you can prove, such as a grade, a degree, a certificate or years of coaching friends.
- Exam preparation: WAEC, NECO, JAMB/UTME, and for diaspora families, exams like IGCSE or SAT. Parents search for these specifically.
- School subjects: maths, physics, chemistry, English and further maths are the usual high-demand ones.
- Language teaching: English conversation for adult learners, or Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Twi or Swahili for children of Africans abroad.
- Skills: Excel, coding basics, data analysis, graphic design, music.
Choose one main group and one or two subjects. You can widen later once you have reviews.
Two markets, two very different price levels
You can tutor local students (Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa) paid in local currency, or international students paid in dollars, pounds or euros. Neither is better for everyone.
| Factor | Local students | International students |
|---|---|---|
| Finding them | Word of mouth, school WhatsApp groups, parents' networks | Tutoring platforms, social media, diaspora communities |
| Payment | Bank transfer in naira, cedi, shilling or rand | Platform payout or transfer service; needs a dollar-receiving setup |
| Competition | Many tutors, but trust is built through referrals | Global competition, so your profile must stand out |
| Time zones | Same or close | Evenings and weekends often, depending on the student |
A sensible plan for most beginners: start with two or three local students to practise and collect feedback, then add international students once your teaching is smooth.
Where to find students
Tutoring and freelance platforms
Well-known options include Preply, Superprof, Upwork and Fiverr. Each has its own application process, commission structure, and rules on which countries it accepts. Check these on the platform's own site before you put time into a profile. Do not pay anyone who claims to "guarantee approval" on a platform.
On platforms, your profile does most of the selling. Use a clear photo with good light, a short intro video if the platform allows it, and a headline that states who you help, for example "WAEC and IGCSE maths tutor for students who struggle with algebra".
Direct channels
- Parents' WhatsApp groups and school alumni groups: offer a free 20-minute trial lesson to one or two families, then ask for an honest recommendation.
- Church, mosque and community groups: diaspora families often look for tutors who share their background and syllabus.
- Short teaching clips: a one-minute explanation of a hard topic on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube shows your teaching style better than a bio. Post consistently and expect slow growth.
- Group lessons: a small online class for 4 to 6 students lets you charge each less while earning more per hour.
How to set your rate
Pricing is covered in detail in our guide to pricing your freelance services in dollars as a beginner. For tutoring specifically, work through these steps.
- Check what comparable tutors charge. Browse ten profiles with your subject, level and similar experience. Note the range, not the single highest price.
- Work out your minimum. Add the hours you teach, plus prep and admin time, plus data and power costs. Divide your target income by real working hours, not just teaching hours.
- Start near the lower-middle of the range. New tutors with no reviews rarely win at the top, but avoid the very bottom, which attracts difficult clients and is hard to raise later.
- Raise your rate on a schedule. For example, after 10 positive reviews or every three months, increase for new students and give existing ones notice.
Worked example (hypothetical)
Say you want to cover ₦150,000 a month from tutoring and you teach 12 hours a week. That is roughly 48 teaching hours a month. Add about 15 minutes of prep and admin per hour, which makes it about 60 working hours. ₦150,000 divided by 48 paid hours is about ₦3,125 per hour, but your real hourly value across 60 hours is nearer ₦2,500. You then set a price that covers the lower figure after costs, plus a buffer for cancelled lessons. If several students cancel, your real income drops, which is why a cancellation policy matters.
The numbers are made up for illustration. Use your own costs, and do the same calculation in dollars if you price internationally.
Run a first lesson that converts
A trial lesson is a diagnostic, not a free class. Do this:
- Spend five minutes asking what the student struggles with and what exam or goal they have.
- Give a short test or two problems to find the gap.
- Teach one concept and let the student try one question alone.
- End with a short plan: what you will cover in the next four sessions.
Parents pay for visible progress. Send a two-line summary after each lesson: what you covered, what the student should practise, and what comes next.
Tools and setup on a tight budget
- Video: Zoom, Google Meet or the tutoring platform's classroom. Test them before the first lesson.
- Whiteboard: a free online whiteboard, or a phone camera pointed at paper on a stand. A tablet with a stylus helps but is not required.
- Audio: wired earphones with a microphone usually beat a laptop mic, and they use less battery than Bluetooth.
- Backup: a power bank, a charged phone to use as a hotspot, and a second SIM or data plan on another network.
For a fuller plan on outages, see our post on freelancing with unstable power and internet. Tell students your backup plan in advance, and agree what happens if a lesson drops: reschedule free if the fault is yours, and have a rule if the student is late.
Contracts, payment and safety
Keep terms short and written down, even for local families. Include the rate, lesson length, payment timing (many tutors take payment before the lesson or monthly in advance), cancellation notice, and a make-up policy.
For dollar payments, read our guide to receiving dollar payments in Nigeria, and check the payout options on whichever platform you use. Keep records of what you earn, since tax rules can apply to online income. Confirm current rules with the relevant tax authority or a qualified adviser in your country.
Safety points for you and the student:
- Keep communication on the platform or a clear parent-approved channel when teaching minors.
- Be wary of anyone who sends an overpayment and asks you to refund the difference. That is a common scam.
- Never share your bank login, BVN or one-time codes. A legitimate client only needs your account details to pay you.
- Do not take on "tutoring" that is really doing a student's assignment or exam for them. It is academic dishonesty and can get you banned.
Common mistakes
- Underpricing and then burning out: a very low rate means too many hours for little pay.
- No cancellation rule: unpaid gaps in your timetable add up.
- Teaching without a plan: random topics produce no visible progress, and parents notice.
- Neglecting reviews: after a good month, politely ask for a review or testimonial.
- Relying on one student: losing one family should not wipe out your income.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a teaching qualification?
Not always. Platforms and parents care about subject knowledge, results and clear explanations. A degree, certificate or strong exam grades help, and some platforms ask for proof, so check their requirements.
How many students do I need to start?
Even two or three regular students give you enough feedback to improve. Build up slowly so your quality stays high.
Can I tutor while working a full-time job?
Yes, many people teach evenings and weekends. Check your employment contract for any restriction on outside work first.
Is group teaching better than one-to-one?
Groups can raise your hourly earnings but need stronger classroom control. Try one-to-one first and add a small group once you are comfortable.
Your next step this week
Write a one-paragraph offer: your subject, student level, exam or goal, and your trial lesson. Send it to five parents or post it in two relevant groups, then check one platform's own requirements and apply if it suits you.
Results from any side hustle or online work vary widely, and nothing here is a promise of income. Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay upfront to start earning.